Phil Jackson to help Detroit Pistons find next head coach

Summary of 2 articles · Updated May 3, 2013

Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores announced Thursday night that Phil Jackson has agreed to serve in an advisory capacity during the team's search for a coach. "We are thrilled to have him as an adviser as we make some very important decisions for this franc… (more)hise. Phil Jackson's back. Sort of. But one source close to the situation told ESPN.com that Jackson's willingness to counsel Gores and Pistons president Joe Dumars as they weigh candidates to replace the ousted Lawrence Frank is an unpaid consultancy stemming from Jackson's friendship with Gores and "does not foreclose any options" with regard to the 11-time championship coach's intentions to find a new full-time NBA management job. ESPN.com reported earlier this week that the Toronto Raptors have ramped up their pursuit of Jackson to run their basketball operations under new Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment CEO Tim Leiweke, another longtime Jackson associate from their days working together in Los Angeles. “We are thrilled to have him as an adviser as we make some very important decisions for this franchise.